The principles of Christian Religion necessary to be knowen of all the faythful: set forth to the great profite in trayning vp of all youth, by Tho. Becon.

¶The duetie of husbandes vnto their wiues.

THe dutie of a faithfull husband vnto hys wife is, to forsake all other for her sake, to cleaue onely to his wife, to loue her as Christ loued the congregation, to cherish her as he would cherishe hys owne body, to prouide for her, to teach her the lawe of God, to dwell with her ac∣cording to knowledge, and to geue honour vnto her, although y^• wea∣ker vessell, as to one that is fellowe heyre with him of the grace of life.

☞Probations out of the holy Scriptures.

This is now bone of my bones,* 1.1 and flesh of my fleshe. She shall be called woman, because she was ta∣ken out of man. For this cause shall a mā leaue his father and mother, and shall be ioyned with hys wife:

and they shall become one fleshe.

Be glad with the wife of thy youth.* 1.2 Let her brestes alway satis∣fie thee, and holde thee euer cōtent with her loue. My sonne, why wilt thou haue pleasure in an harlotte, and embrace the bosome of an o∣ther woman.

Ye husbandes,* 1.3 loue your wiues, euen as Christ also loued the con∣gregation, & gaue him self for it, to sanctifie it, & clensed it in the foun∣taine of water through y^• worde, to make it vnto him self a glorious cō∣gregatiō, without spot or wrinkle, or any thing: but y^t it should be holy and without blame. So ought mē to loue their wiues, as their owne bodyes. He that loueth his wife, lo∣ueth him selfe: For no mā euer yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, euen as the Lord doth the congregation. &c.

Ye husbandes, loue your wiues,* 1.4

and be not bitter to them.

Ye mē,* 1.5 dwell with your wiues according to knowledge, geuing honour vnto the wife, as vnto the weaker vessell, & as vnto them that are heyres also of the grace of life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gene. ij.
• * 1.2

  Pro. v.
• * 1.3

  Ephe. v.
• * 1.4

  Coloss. i••j.
• * 1.5

  j. Pet. iij.